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Stress responses help your body adjust to new situations. Stress can
be positive, keeping us alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger.
For example, if you have an important test coming up, a stress
response might help your body work harder and stay awake longer.
But stress becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief
or periods of relaxation.
What happens to the body during stress?
Anxiety or irritability.
Depression.
Panic attacks.
Sadness.
You can’t avoid stress, but you can stop it from becoming
overwhelming by practicing some daily strategies:
Exercise when you feel symptoms of stress coming on. Even a
short walk can boost your mood.
At the end of each day, take a moment to think about what
you’ve accomplished — not what you didn’t get done.
Set goals for your day, week and month. Narrowing your view
will help you feel more in control of the moment and long-term
tasks.
Consider talking to a therapist or your healthcare provider about
your worries.
What are some ways to prevent stress?
You should seek medical attention if you feel overwhelmed, if you are
using drugs or alcohol to cope, or if you have thoughts about hurting
yourself. Your primary care provider can help by offering advice,
prescribing medicine or referring you to a therapist.